Two dumb question, one comment/observation
1) Although I live in Canada, I have family in Colorado Springs I plan to visit this August. I'll be travelling with my wife & children, so no serious 0ff roading travel. Never been to this area before. What would people reccomend for shooting? I also plan to visit the Grand Canyon, for the kids. (okay, me tto . Yes, it's a full day away from the Colordao Springs area, but hey, we do the long road trip thing. Already have three, 3,000 mile + trips under our belts in the past 4 years. So what to go for bewteen the G.C and Col. Springs area?
2) The Toronto Large Format soceity never seemed to get off the gorund. They announced one meeting, and then the web site went down. Anybody know of any other LF groups in SW Ontario? I know there are other LF shooters around here - View Camera magazine sells out quick at the one local newstand that carries it. Might be neat to met up with some other LF shooters locally someday.
BTW - yes, there is a local camera club, and no, I am not interested in them. 20 years ago I lasted maybe 6 months there. I am just not into the competition thing.
3) an observation. I think there's a real resurgence in LF overall. Bear in mind, for every one person going LF, there are probally a million (or gazillion going digital. Still, 20+ years ago I would visit the used camera shows in Toronto, Detriot, etc, and you could buy used lens boards for the Speed or Crown Graphic for 25 cents - and they had them stacked high like egg cartons or something. Now, if you are lucky enough to find one - well, last one at a camera show in Toronto - $30, and it looked like somebody ran it over a few times with a cement truck.
Anyhow, I used to be able to find used LF gear at the camera stores in the area. Not much, to be fair, and sometimes what was there looked pretty beat up, but now there's nothing at all. Anything LF used gets snapped up. A local camera store just sold a used Crown Graphic, 2x3 size - went for around $500 Cdn. More power to the new owner if he plans on cutting his own film, but ten years ago I picked up a mint condition Crown Graphic, German Xenar lens, for $200. (Sold the Xenar, now have a nice Rodenstock Sironar 135mm in it's place.
Also, the local camera stores are filled with used - and very good - pro gear in both 35mm and MF. Usually you just saw some old beatup Mamyia if you wanted anything used in MF, now there's stuff there in excellent shape, for not bad good prices - well, compared to new or used prices even 5 years ago.
I mention this becasue an earlier thread talked about how many new LF cameras are sold ever year. I wonder if used sales aren't eh real indicator, and the fact that while prices for used 35mm and MF gear appears to be static if not falling in some places, prices for used LF gear - when you can find it - seems to be rising.
Sorry to ramble on so long, haven't finished my moring coffee yet. anyhow, enjoy reading all you guys, I learn a lot here. thanks
joe
Bookmarks